0023 Tommy Whittle [Waxing With Whittle Volume One] FLAC 14(47.28)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
This is the first of two lps featuring his studio recordings for Esquire in chronological order. The recordings here come from a 10" lp called 'Waxing With Whittle' (20-028), an ep called 'Tommy Whittle Quintet' (ep 37) and one 78 rpm record (10-368) and show Tommy playing with a trio and then a quartet by the addition of Harry Klein on baritone sax. The pianist on all tracks is Dill Jones, another who emigrated to the USA in the late 1960s.
Tommy is playing as well as ever at the age of 83 and still advertises his services as a saxophone tutor in 'Jazz Journal'.

Tommy Whittle - tenor
Harry Klein - baritone
Dill Jones - piano
Stan Wasser - bass
Sammy Stokes - bass
Joe Muddel - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
Eddie Taylor - drums

01 I'm Beginning to See the Light
02 I Can't Believe that You're in Love with Me
03 Deep Purple
04 Waxing with Whittle
05 Symphony
06 'Deed I Do
07 Zoot Suite
08 Frenesi
09 I Can't Get Started With You
10 'Deed I Do
11 Martini
12 Zythum
13 Yesterdays
14 Debut

Label: Esquire 305
Recorded: April 11 1953 March 12 April 07 August 17 1954
Lineage: vinyl>FLAC

0022 Tony Kinsey [Fascinating Rhythm] FLAC 13(45.03)

Contributed by Rodney and Bluenote97
Culled from recordings made at British Decca in Hampstead in the mid 1950's, these 12 sides feature 8 that were originally issued as two 7" EPs. That leaves 4 more that were hitherto unreleased in this country. An astonishingly gifted musician of his time (and still, we're delighted to say, going strong!), these hugely rare and thoroughly enjoyable recordings, which have been stunningly restored, will shed a big spotlight onto an under-appreciated musician and the rest of tightly trained musicians. Respected jazz writer Peter Vacher, who has recently interviewed Tony, has written highly informative notes to go along with this significant release. Harkit.2006

Joe Harriott - alto (07 09 10)
Ronnie Ross - baritone (0-06 08 11 12)
Bill Le Sage - vibes, piano
Eric Dawson - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums

01 Starboard Bow (Tony Kinsey) (2:52)
02 Body And Soul (Johnny Green/Andrew Eyton) (3:17)
03 Making Whoopee (Walter Donaldson/Gus Kahn) (5:22)
04 Lullaby Of The Leaves (Bernice Petkere/Joe Young) (3:19)
05 Hey There (Richard Adler/Jerry Ross) (2:53)
06 Close Your Eyes (Bernice Petkere) (2:52)
07 Fascinating Rhythm (George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin) (2:34)
08 A Smo-o-oth One (Benny Goodman/Charlie Christian/Stanley Smith) (3:04)
09 Harlem (Eddie Carroll) (6:48)
10 She's Funny That Way (Neil Moret/Richard Whiting) (3:02)
11 Ballet (Bill Le Sage) (2:49)
12 Isolation (Bill Le Sage) (3:04)

Labels: London LL1517 Harkit HRKCD 8212
Recorded: August 03 October 18 1955 April 30 May 28 1956
Lineage: CD>FLAC

0021 Dizzy Reece [Progress Report] FLAC 8(39.32)

Contributed by grumpy
Contemporary review (amusing to see Phil Seamen referred to as backward looking!):
I must admit to regarding this record unfavourably on first hearing- but it reveals a deal more depth and commend-ability on further listening. It is an undisguised showcase for Dizzy Reece and the title of the disc is "Progress Report.' Although he is supported here by the remaining handful of backward looking British modernists, it is his disc, and he seizes his opportunity with all three valves.
Tony Hall in his cover notes enthuses, as always, about Dizzy Reece’s playing, and understandably so, for he reveals himself here as a talented musician. He has a command and feel for his instrument that few other players on the British scene can match. Unfortunately, he seems to be limiting his endeavours at the moment to a very small corner of jazz. The whole mood of this LP is, to my ears, claustrophobically turned back-wards into the middle and early forties. I would very much like to hear Dizzy break out of the strait jacket that he and the other musicians have voluntarily donned on this disc. He gives promise of doing so on many occasions, and I look forward with interest to Dizzy's next LP. Given the wider range that he must obviously seek, Dizzy Reece will become a very powerful voice in British jazz.
Brian Nicholls, Jazz Journal Vol 10, No6, June 1957.

(01 04 05 07)
Dizzy Reece - trumpet
Victor Feldman - piano
Lloyd Thompson - bass
Phil Seamen - drums 
(02 06)
Dizzy Reece - trumpet
Johnny Weed - piano
Dave Goldberg - guitar
Lennie Bush - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
(03 08)
Dizzy Reece - trumpet
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Terry Shannon - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

01 Riviera
02 Chorous
03 Out Of Nowhere
04 Momentum
05 Now
06 Basie Line
07 Gypsy
08 Scrapple For The Apple

Label: Tempo TAP9
Recorded: April 26 July 23  December 28 1956
Lineage: CD>FLAC

0020 Alan Clare [Jazz Around The Clock and Trio With Bob Burns] FLAC 17(1.15.27)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
Alan Clare (1931-1993)  was one of those pianists who never sought the limelight, rarely recorded under his own name but made a steady living playing as resident pianist in small drinking clubs and musicians hangouts such as the Studio Club and the Swallow Club in London. He did, however, spend some years playing with Stephane Grappelli between 1970 and 1975 and recordings do exist. His last recording was in 1993 just before he died which was a beautiful duo date with bassist Lennie Bush called 'Holland Park'. It is worth seeking out.
Alan knew all the tunes and could play anything but on one occasion he was caught out by a slightly inebriated customer who asked him to play 'You Are The One'.  Alan, not having heard of this, suggested  alternatives - 'You Are My Heart's Desire', 'You Do something to Me', ' You And Me',  'You Are' , all without success.  He then said, 'Sing it and I'll follow', whereupon our man sang ... 'Night and Day, You Are the One....'.  Alan put his head on the keys and lowered the lid.
Anyway, here is Alan Clare, firstly on a trio date with guest musicians such as Don Rendell, Ray Premu, Bob Efford and Bob Burns on some tracks and recorded live at the Star Club, where he was then resident, on 4-5 February 1958.
A further quartet date previously issued on an ep on 17 January 1957 is next. Here, Bob Burns (Canadian born) plays bass-clarinet.
Finally, there are  three bonus tracks from 1956/57.

(01)
Don Rendell - tenor
Alan Clare - piano
Kenny Napper - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums
(02)
Ray Premru - bass trumpet
Alan Clare - piano
Kenny Napper - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums
(03)
Bob Efford - tenor
Alan Clare - piano
Kenny Napper - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums
(04 15 16)
Bob Burns - alto
Alan Clare - piano
Kenny Napper - bass
Bobby Kevin - drums
(05-10)
Alan Clare - piano
Kenny Napper - bass
Bobby Kevin - drums
(11-14)
Bob Burns - bass clarinet
Alan Clare - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
(17)
Alan Clare - piano
Ike Isaacs - guitar
Lennie Bush - bass
Allan Ganley - drums

01 I'm Old Fashioned (Kern, Mercer) (5:11)
02 Everything Happens To Me (Dennis, Adiar) (7:26)
03 Morning Fun (Sims) (4:36)
04 Yesterdays (Kern, Harbach) (4:59)
05 Drop Me Off At Harlem (Ellington, Kenny) (3:54)
06 Luxury Flat (Clare) (4:51)
07 Just You Just Me (Klages, Greer) (4:30)
08 Moonlight In Vermont (Suessdorf, Blackburn) (4:00)
09 There's A Lull In My Life (Gordon, Revel) (2:43)
10 Hayfoot Strawfoot (McGrane, Leak, Drake) (4:31)
11 It's Easy To Remember (Rodgers, Hart) (4:52)
12 Sometimes I'm Happy (Caesar, Youmans) (2:56)
13 Easy Living (Robin, Rainger) (4:30)
14 How Long Has This Been Going On (Gershwin, Gershwin) (2:54)
15 Luxury Flat (Clare) (4:07)
16 Manhattan (Rodgers, Hart) (3:25)
17 Lullaby In Rhythm (Young, Peters) (6:02)

Label: Decca LK 4260 DFE 6391 + 3 bonus tracks
Recorded: January 14 1957 (11-14) February 04 05 1958 (01-10) November 10 1956 (17) ? (15 16)
Lineage: CD>FLAC

0019 Cleo Laine John Dankworth [A Lover And His Lass] FLAC 16(52.43)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
Cleo had recorded with John Dankworth's various groups since 1951 and made her first records with Dankworth's Seven then later with the big band for Esquire. The first 8 tracks here comprised Cleo's first lp, also on Esquire, a 10" lp titled 'Cleo Sings British' (all the songs being by British composers), and recorded on 3 March 1955. She is backed by a small group from the Dankworth Big band called the Keith Christie Quintet including, of course , her husband to be, John Dankworth (or Johnny as he was known back then).
The remaining tracks making up this re-issue lp are drawn from recordings of the Dankworth Seven between 1950-1952.
Ripped in FLAC from lp with cover scans.

(01-08)
Cleo Laine - vocals
Keith Christie - trombone
John Dankworth - alto, clarinet
Bill le Sage - vibes
Bill Sutcliffe - bass
Allan Ganley - drums
(09-16)
Jimmy Deuchar - trumpet
Eddie Harvey - trombone
John Dankworth - alto
Don Rendell - tenor
Bill le Sage - piano
Eric Dawson - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums

01 It Was A Lover And His Lass (Young) (3:31)
02 You're Blase (Hamiton) (3:05)
03 Spead A Little Happiness (Ellis) (3:35)
04 You've Done Somethng To My Heart (Gay) (3:46)
05 Mad About The Boy (Coward) (3:02)
06 I'm On A See-Saw (Ellis) (2:53)
07 A Love Like Ours (Murrells) (3:02)
08 It's A Pity To Say Goodnight (Reid) (3:30)
09 I Hear Music (Lane, Loesser) (3:13)
10 The Slider (Wise, Raeburn, Temple) (3:40:
11 Our Delight (Dameron) (3:18)
12 Perhaps (Parker) (3:15)
13 Stardust (Carmichael, Parish) (3:47)
14 Bopscotch (Chaloff) (2:57)
15 Allen's Alley (Best) (2:58)
16 Webb City (Fuller) (3:11)

Label: Esquire 12" lp  ESQ 301
Recorded: 1950 to 1952 and March 3 1955
Lineage: LP>FLAC

0018 Ralph Sharon [Autumn Leaves and Spring Fever] FLAC 12(30.23)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
Pianist Ralph Sharon was in right at the start of British bebop back in 1947 and played with all the usual suspects in the London clubs. He recorded with his own group as early as 1949 and continued to do so up to 1953 when he emigrated to the USA.  Other UK pianists were to follow him, Victor Feldman, Derek Smith, Ronnie Ball, Dill Jones, Eddie Thompson (although he did return). George Shearing  had gone in 1949 and Marian McPartland in 1948.
These were his last recordings in December 1952 and March 1953 before he left the UK and it was an interesting early 'themed' lp with songs about Autumn and Spring as the title suggests.
The trio is augmented on the 1953 tracks by guitarist Bert Weedon - a rare jazz excursion for him although he did play  on a Melody Makers All Stars date in 1955, which we shall see later.
Sharon played with all the greats later in the USA and had a very successful career (he still plays). He is probably best known later for his long association with singer Tony Bennett and was the accompanist of choice for many other singers.
Worth seeking out are the 5 trio cds (the music of Porter, Gershwin, Rodgers, Berlin and Kern) he made with Lenny Bush and Jack Parnell  for the obscure UK label Horatio Nelson whilst he was visiting the UK in the early 1990s.
Ripped in FLAC from lp with front and back cover scans and additional recording detail.

(01-03)
Ralph Sharon - piano
Joe Muddel - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
(04 08 12)
Ralph Sharon - piano
Jack Fallon - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
(05-07 09-11)
Ralph Sharon - piano
Bert Weedon - guitar
Jack Fallon - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums

01 One Morning In May (Carmichael) (2:37)
02 It Might As Well Be Spring (Rodgers, Hammerstein) (2:18)
03 Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year (Loesser, Revel, Gordon) (2:18)
04 A Garden In The Rain (Gibbons, Dyrenforth) (2:38)
05 September In The Rain (Dubin, Warren) (1:58)
06 Falling Leaves (2:21)
07 Autumn Mist (Sharon) (3:14)
08 Spring Secret (Sharon) (3:27)
09 Early Autumn (Mercer, Burns, Herman) (3:08)
10 Indian Summer (Dubin, Herbert) (2:43)
11 Shine On Harvest Moon (Norworth, Bayes) (1:31)
12 March Winds And April Showers (Powell) (2:10)

Label: London LL 1339
Recorded: December 02  (01-03) 09 (04 08 12) 1952 March 05 1953 (05-07 09-11)
Lineage: LP>FLAC